That was disgusting, period. An all around ugly look for racing. I instantly assumed that the other ownership interest's were financially compensated for basically doing everything they could to help the winner. The NY Post article gives the impression that it wasn't a full on top down "conspiracy" amongst all involved. While it certainly casts doubt in the direction of the jocks, it pretty much exonerates the "money." Unfortunately though, nowadays most people realize everything in this country is based off of The Golden Rule, you know, the one that says, "he who has the gold makes the rules"

Frenchie has no comment, not even a rehearsed explanation? That looks terrible regardless of what the actual intent and instruction was. What has him so worried he's pleading the 5th? The situation as a whole, Justify's biggest threat Audible coming down with a phantom abdominal injury a week out. Obviously a business decision from the same ownership conglomerate. That's annoying, but you can understand it. And hey they'll let TAP saddle Noble Indy, but not with blinkers? Even though he ran his best with them on, and his best chance at winning is using his speed, TAP goes without? Makes sense right? But equipment wouldn't have mattered anyway because the multi eclipse award winning jockey JJ decided to quote, "call his own audible" and take him back? Really? Did Repole get played? Or is his request something else entirely?

Pretty poor all around, but when you add in the debacle that was Restoring Hope's ride? Literally at every stage of the race? It couldn't look much worse. It's worth mentioning that Baffert decided to scrap the blinkers on Restoring Hope for this one as well. It seems odd that the trainer's of the two who's alleged game plan was speed both were entered without the blinkers they'd been wearing in recent starts?

I was inundated with texts and even an actual phone call immediately following the race from what would be considered casual fans, searching for some sort of clarity on what they just witnessed. Talk about horrid optics for a sport scratching for legitimacy.

Now what? Let it fade away and do/say nothing and it leaves a sour taste and soiled perception to countless people who ripped up tickets. Launch some sort of official inquiry and have it return anything nefarious on anyone on any level and the negative impact is even worse? You can't quantify the long term damage and fallout that would bring. Your completely damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Was the precedent just set on the sports biggest stage that racing as a whole is all good with covert team work, be it perceived or otherwise? Separate Connections working together on and off the track to achieve a predetermined outcome? Racing couldn't recover from that.

It's a sad day for the sport when in the most high profile race of this particular year, the key to cashing a ticket is handicapping the ownership, connections, and partnerships, both public and private, as opposed to their entries actual ability on the track.